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April 21, 2026
Live from DisruptED with Denise Aberle-Cannata

Live from DisruptED with Denise Aberle-Cannata

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About the Episode

About the Episode: 

In this bonus episode recorded live at the Collegis Education DisruptED summit in Phoenix, we spoke with Denise Aberle-Cannata, Provost at the College of Western Idaho (CWI). They talk about building a student success model centered on the full student lifecycle—from inquiry through graduation and career placement. By mapping the student journey, the institution identified gaps and redesigned processes to create a more seamless, supportive experience grounded in relationships, not just systems. 

The conversation emphasizes the importance of culture, change management, and cross-campus ownership in making student success initiatives stick. While technology played a supporting role in improving efficiency and visibility, the real impact came from aligning people, processes, and purpose around helping every student succeed.

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About the Show: The Higher Ed Geek Podcast explores the impact of edtech on the student experience by speaking with diverse leaders from institutions, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Each week we aim to provide an engaging, fun, and relevant dose of professional development that honors the wide range of work happening all across the higher ed ecosystem. Come geek out with us! The Higher Ed Geek Podcast is hosted by Dustin Ramsdell and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.

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Connect With Our Host:
Dustin Ramsdell‍

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Enrollify is produced by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

People in this episode

Host

Dustin Ramsdell is a leading content creator and influencer in the Higher EdTech space, and the host of Higher Ed Geek.

Interviewee

Denise Aberle-Cannata

Denise has led large-scale academic and operational transformation at Idaho’s largest community college

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